Iff—  3 


#" 


# 


ALUMNI  LIBRARY,  f 

THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,    f 

PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


N//r//'. 

/>'o<>/.\  ) 


vo 


/" 


v^ 


A 

SERMON. 


Titus  I.  9. 

Holding  fast  the  faithful  word,  as  he  hath  been  taught, 
that  he  may  be  able,  by  sound  doctrine,  both  to  exhort 
and  to  convince  the  gainsayers. 

The  inspired  Apostle  is  here  giving  directions  con- 
cerning the  proper  character  and  qualifications  of 
ministers  of  the  Gospel.  Some  duties  are  common  to 
all  christians ;  while  others  belong  either  exclusively, 
or  in  an  eminent  degree,  to  pastors  and  teachers. 
The  latter  is  the  case  with  regard  to  the  injunction 
implied  in  our  text.  On  all  the  disciples  of  Christ  is 
laid  the  charge  to  "  hold  fast  the  faithful  word  ;"  but 
on  the  guides  and  rulers  in  the  house  of  God  is  this 
obligation  especially  devolved  ;  among  other  reasons, 
for 'this,  that  they  "may  be  able,  by  sound  doctrine, 
both  to  exhort,  and  to  convince  the  gainsayers." 

By  "  the  faithful  word,"  here  spoken  of,  we  are 
evidently  to  understand  the  pure,  unadulterated  doc- 
trines of  Christ ;  the  genuine  Gospel,  as  revealed  by  a 
gracious  God  for  the  benefit  of  sinful  men.  Not  the 
doctrines  of  this  or  the  other  particular  denomination 
of  Christians,  as  such,  but  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible. 


I 


6 

This  system  of  doctrine  is  represented  as  that  which 
we  "have  been  taught."  The  Gospel  which  we 
preach,  my  friends,  is  not  our  Gospel.  We  neither 
invented  it,  nor  can  we  improve  it.  "  I  certify  you," 
says  the  same  Apostle  who  penned  the  words  of  our 
text — "  I  certify  you,  brethren,  that  the  Gospel  which 
was  preached  of  me  is  not  after  man.  For  I  neither 
received  it  of  man,  neither  was  I  taught  it  but  by  the 
revelation  of  Jesus  Christ." 

The  original  word,  here  properly  translated  "  hold 
fast,"  is  very  strong  and  expressive  in  its  import.  It 
signifies  keeping  a  firm  hold  of  any  thing,  in  opposition 
to  those  who  would  wrest  it  from  us.  Of  course,  it 
implies  that  Gospel  truth  is  and  will  ever  be  opposed 
by  enemies  and  "  gainsayers ;"  and  that  maintaining 
and  propagating  truth  must  always  be  expected,  in 
such  a  world  as  this,  to  require  unceasing  effort  and 
conflict. 

The  general  position  of  our  text,  then,  is — That  the 
Ministers  of  our  holy  Religion,  if  they  desire  to  con- 
vince, to  convert,  or  to  edify  their  fellow-men,  are 
solemnly  bound  to  maintain  for  themselves,  and  dili- 
gently to  impart  to  those  around  them,  "  sound  doc- 
trine," or,  in  other  words,  the  genuine  truths  of 

THE  GOSPEL. 

To  illustrate  and  confirm  this  position,  let  us,  first, 
inquire,  why  we  ought  to  maintain  "  sound  doctrine ;" 
and,  secondly,  how  it  ought  to  be  maintained  ;  or  in 
what  manner,  and  by  what  means  ? 

I.  The  first  inquiry  which  demands  our  attention, 
is, — why  ought  we  to  maintain  "  sound  doctrine  ?" 
Why  is  it  important  that  all  believers,  and  Ministers 
of  Religion  in  particular,  should  "  hold  fast  the  faithful 
word  ?"    And  here,  let  me  ask, 


1.  Can  any  thing  more  be  necessary  to  establish  the 
duty  before  us,  than  the  consideration  that  "  the  faith- 
ful word"  of  which  we  speak  is  from  God ;  that  it 
was  given  to  us  for  our  temporal  and  eternal  benefit ; 
and,  of  course,  given,  not  to  be  disregarded,  but  to  be 
respected,  studied,  loved,  and  diligently  applied  to 
the  great  purposes  for  which  it  was  revealed  ?  To 
suppose  that  we  are  at  liberty  lightly  to  esteem  such  a 
gift,  coming  from  such  a  source ;  or  that  we  commit 
no  sin  in  voluntarily  permitting  a  deposit  so  precious 
to  be  corrupted,  perverted,  or  wrested  from  us,  is  a 
supposition  equally  dishonourable  to  God,  and  repug- 
nant to  every  dictate  of  reason. 

2.  But  further ;  "  holding  fast"  the  genuine  system 
of  revealed  truth,  is  frequently  and  solemnly  com- 
manded by  the  great  God  of  truth.  Both  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  New  abound  with  injunctions  to 
this  amount.  In  the  former,  we  are  exhorted  to 
"  cry  after  knowledge,  and  lift  up  our  voice  for  un- 
derstanding ;  to  seek  it  as  silver,  and  search  for  it  as 
for  hid  treasures."  We  are  exhorted  to  "buy  the 
truth,  a -id  not  to  sell  it."  And  they  are  highly  com- 
mended who  are  represented  as  "  valiant  for  the 
truth."  In  the  latter,  the  language  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
is,  "  Hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  words  which  thou 
hast  received."  And  again,  "  Contend  earnestly  for 
the  feith" — that  is,  the  revealed  doctrine  which  is  the 
object  of  faith — "  once  delivered  to  the  saints."  And 
again,  "  Be  not  carried  about  with  every  wind  of 
doctrine,  and  cunning  craftiness  whereby  they  lie  in 
wait  to  deceive."  And  again,  "  Hold  fast  the  pro- 
fession of  your  faith  firm  without  wavering."  And 
again,  "  If  there  come  any  unto  you,  and  bring  not 


this  doctrine" — that  is,  the  true  doctrine  of  Christ — 
"  receive  him  not  into  your  house,  neither  bid  him 
God  speed ;  for  he  that  biddeth  him  God  speed,  is  a 
partaker  of  his  evil  deeds."  Nay,  the  inspired  Apostle 
pronounces,  "  If  any  man  come  unto  you,  and  bring 
any  other  Gospel" — that  is,  any  other  system  of  doc- 
trine concerning  the  salvation  by  Christ — "  than  that 
which  ye  have  received,  let  him  be  accursed."* 

3.  The  obligation  to  "  hold  fast"  the  genuine  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel,  appears  from  considering  the 
great  importance  which  the  Scriptures  every  where 
attach  to  evangelical  truth. 

I  am  aware  that  it  is  a  popular  sentiment  with  many 
who  bear  the  Christian  name,  that  doctrine  is  of  little 
moment,  and  that  practice  alone  is  all  in  all.  But  such 
persons  surely  forget  that  there  can  be  no  settled  and 
habitual  good  practice,  without  good  principles  ;  and 
that  sound,  correct  doctrine,  is  but  another  name  for 
sound  principle.  Take  away  the  doctrines  of  the 
Gospel,  and  you  take  away  its  essential  character. 
You  take  away  every  thing  that  is  adapted  to  en- 
lighten, to  restrain,  to  purify,  to  console,  and  to  ele- 
vate. Take  away  the  doctrines  of  our  holy  Religion, 
in  other  words,  the  great  truths  of  which  the  "  glad 
tidings  of  great  joy"  are  composed,  and  you  take  away 
the  essence  of  the  whole  message ; — the  seed  of  all 
spiritual  life ;  the  aliment  on  which  every  believer 
lives ;  the  vital  principles  of  all  experimental  piety, 
and  of  all  holy  practice.  What  is  Faith,  but  cordially 
embracing,  with  confidence  and  love,  the  great  truths 


*  Prov.  ii.  3,  4.     Prov.  xxiii.  23.    Jerem.  ix.  3.     II.  Tim.  i.  13.    Jude  8. 
Bphes.  iv.  14.    Heb.  x.  23.    II.  John,  10, 11.     Galat.  i.  9. 


concerning  duty  and  salvation  which  the  Scriptures 
reveal  ?  What  is  Repentance,  but  a  holy  sorrow  for 
sin,  founded  on  a  spiritual  perception  of  those  doc- 
trines concerning  God,  his  character,  his  law,  and 
the  plan  of  mercy  which  his  word  proclaims  ?  What 
is  Hope,  but  looking  forward  with  holy  desire  and 
expectation  to  that  "  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory,"  which  "  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus"  freely 
offers  to  our  acceptance  ?  What,  in  short,  is  Religion, 
in  the  largest  sense  of  the  term,  but  the  combination 
of  "  knowledge  of  the  truth,"  "  love  of  the  truth," 
and  "  walking  in  the  truth  ?"  What  is  it  but  having 
just  apprehensions  of  those  great  Objects  which  are 
revealed  in  Christian  doctrine ;  just  affections  and 
desires  toward  them  ;  and  acting  out  these  desires 
and  affections  in  the  temper  and  life  ?  No  wonder, 
then,  that  when  the  impenitent  are  converted,  they 
are  said  to  "  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth ;" 
that  they  are  said  to  be  "  born  again  by  the  word  of 
truth  ;"  to  be  "  made  free  by  the  truth,"  and  to 
"  obey  the  truth ;" — by  all  which  expressions  we  are 
plainly  taught,  that  truth,  or,  which  is  the  same 
thing,  Christian  doctrine,  is  the  grand  instrument,  in 
the  hands  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  which  spiritual  life  is 
begun,  carried  on,  and  completed  in  every  subject  of 
redeeming  grace. 

Hence  it  is,  that  the  scriptures  every  where  re- 
present bringing  the  truth,  in  some  way,  to  men,  as 
absolutely  necessary  to  their  conversion  and  salva- 
tion. "  How  shall  they  believe  in  Him  of  whom  they 
have  not  heard  ?"  Hence  they  so  plainly  teach  us, 
that  there  can  be  no  real  piety  where  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel  are  not  embraced.  "  Who- 
soever abideth  not  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  hath  not 


10 

God."  On  this  principle,  too,  it  is,  that  the  inspired 
volume,  with  awful  emphasis,  declares  certain  "  he- 
resies" to  be  "  damnable" — that  is,  inevitably  de- 
structive to  the  souls  of  men.  And  on  the  same 
principle  it  is,  that  all  Scripture,  and  all  experience 
teach  us,  that  wherever  the  preaching  and  the  pre- 
valence of  true  doctrine  has  declined,  there  piety, 
immediately,  and  in  a  corresponding  ratio,  has  de- 
clined ;  good  morals  have  declined  ;  and  all  the  most 
precious  interests  of  the  church  and  of  civil  society, 
have  never  failed  to  be  essentially  depressed. 

We  cannot,  indeed,  undertake  to  pronounce  how 
much  knowledge  of  sound  doctrine  is  necessary  to 
salvation  ;  or  how  much  error  is  sufficient  to  destroy 
the  soul.  But  we  know,  from  the  nature  of  the  case, 
and  especially  from  the  word  of  God,  that  all  error, 
like  poison,  is  mischievous,  and,  of  course,  ought  to 
be  avoided.  I  know  not,  indeed,  how  large  a  quan- 
tity of  a  given  deleterious  drug  might  be  necessary, 
in  a  particular  case,  to  take  away  life :  but  of  one 
thing  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that  it  is  madness  to 
sport  with  it,  and  that  the  less  we  take  of  it  the  better. 
As  nothing  but  nutritious  food  will  support  the  ani- 
mal body  ;  so  nothing  but  Zion's  provision,  which  is 
truth,  can  either  commence,  or  sustain  "  the  life  of 
God  in  the  soul  of  man." 

4.  Further ;  the  duty  to  maintain  and  hold  forth 
sound  doctrine,  may  be  urged  from  the  consideration, 
that  such  doctrine  is  universally  distasteful  to  the 
unsanctified  heart,  and,  therefore,  requires  not  only 
to  be  presented,  but  also  to  be  importunately  pressed 
on  the  attention  of  men,  if,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  we 
may  prevail  with  them  to  receive  it. 


11 

It  is,  somewhere,  justly  remarked,  by  one  of  the 
most  eloquent  of  living  preachers,*  that,  of  all  kinds 
of  truth,  the  pure  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  precisely 
that,  and  that  alone,  for  which  there  is  no  natural 
demand  among  men.     All  other  kinds  of  truth  are 
called  for,   even  by  unsanctified  minds.      Literary 
truth ;  philosophical  truth ;  political  truth ;  commer- 
cial truth;  mechanical  truth;— for  all  these  there  is 
a  general,  steady,  and  growing  demand,  as  population 
becomes  more  extended  and  active ;    because  for  all 
of  them,  there  is,  among  the  diversified  classes  of 
society,  a  deep-seated,  natural  taste.     But  with  re- 
gard to  the  most  precious  of  all  truth,— that  which 
relates  to  God,  and  the  way  of  salvation,  there  is  no 
natural  demand  among  the  mass  of  mankind.     No, 
my  brethren,  we  are  perfectly  aware  that  the  Gospel 
which  we  preach— a  Gospel  which  proclaims  to  men 
their  guilt  and  depravity,  and  a  method  of  recovery 
which  lays  the  sinner  in  the  dust,  and  stains  all  his' 
pride ;— we  are  perfectly  aware  that  this  is  a  Gospel 
which  the  natural  heart  every  where  hates,  and  is 
disposed  to  reject ;  which,  of  course,  none  ever  na- 
turally desire  or  seek ;  and  which,  therefore,  requires 
not  merely  to  be  held  up  to  the  view  of  men,  but  to 
be  urged  and  pressed  on  their  minds,  with  ceaseless 
repetition,  as  long  as  they  continue  within  the  reach 
of  the  voice  of  mercy. 

Nor  is  this  all.  The  same  distaste  for  the  holy, 
humbling,  and  self-denying  doctrines  of  the  Gospel, 
which  renders  all  men,  by  nature,  disposed  to  reject 
them ;— disposes  them  also  to  pervert  these  doctrines ; 
to  contrive,  in  a  thousand  ways,  to  reduce  and  muti- 
late them,  and  thus  to  endeavour  to  divest  them  of 

*Pr.  Chaimeki  . 


12 

their  offensive  character,  and  accommodate  them  to 
the  taste  of  unsanctitied  men.  This  undoubted  fact 
renders  it  necessary  that  all  who  profess  to  love  the 
Religion  of  Christ,  and  especially  Ministers,  who  are, 
by  Divine  appointment,  the  official  conservators  of 
evangelical  truth,  be  constantly  on  the  watch  to  mark 
these  unhallowed  attempts  at  mutilation  and  perver- 
sion ;  to  guard  those  who  are  under  their  care  against 
the  insidious  arts  of  error;  to  distinguish  with  clear- 
ness between  truth  and  falsehood  ;  to  recommend 
the  one,  and  denounce  the  other  ;  and  thus  to  "  hold 
fast"  and  hold  forth  sound  doctrine,  for  the  benefit  of 
themselves  and  others. 

5.  Another  reason  why  Ministers  of  Religion  ought 
to  be  vigilant,  firm,  and  unwearied  in  "  holding  fast 
sound  doctrine,"  is,  that  the  enemies  of  truth  are 
every  where  zealous  and  indefatigable  in  opposing  it. 
This  consideration  is  closely  allied  with  the  preceding, 
but  is,  nevertheless,  worthy  of  separate  notice. 

If  men  were  not,  every  where,  prone  to  embrace 
error  ;  if  they  did  not  naturally  love  error  better  than 
truth ;  and  if  the  advocates  of  erroneous  opinions  were 
not  active  and  unceasing  in  their  efforts  to  insinuate 
them  into  the  minds  of  men  ;  there  would  be  the  less 
call  for  unremitting  vigilance  and  activity  on  the  part 
of  the  "  watchmen  on  the  walls  of  Zion."  We 
know,  however,  that  the  advocates  of  error  not  only 
abound  in  every  part  of  the  world,  but  also  that  their 
exertions  to  propagate  their  sentiments  are  equally 
ceaseless,  diversified,  ingenious  and  unwearied.  Ar- 
gument, ridicule,  intimidation,  Battery,  and  all  the 
arts  which  talent,  learning,  and  diligence  enable  them 
to  apply  for  extending  the  dominion  of  their  delusive 
principles,  are  constantly  employed  for  effecting  this 


13 

fatal  purpose.  To  say  nothing  of  the  avowed  rejector 
of  all  revelation,  the  Unitarian,  the  Pelagian,  the  Uni- 
versalist,  and  the  whole  train  of  errorists,  under  the 
Christian  name,  are  incessantly  busy,  from  the  pulpit 
and  the  press,  in  public  and  in  private,  in  disseminating 
their  pestilential  doctrines.  Indeed  it  is  melancholy 
to  think  that  the  advocates  of  error,  like  the  other 
"children  of  this  world"  "  are  wiser  in  their  genera- 
tion than  the  children  of  light ;" — that  is,  more  active, 
more  cunning,  more  watchful,  more  adroit,  more 
quick-sighted  in  devising  means,  and  more  unwearied 
in  pursuing  them ;  more  ingenious  in  availing  them- 
selves of  opportunities  and  prejudices  in  their  favour ; 
and,  on  all  these  accounts,  more  apt  to  be  successful 
in  carrying  the  multitude  with  them. 

In  these  circumstances,  how  important  is  it  that 
the  advocates  of  truth  be  awake,  active,  and  faithful 
in  guarding  the  precious  deposit  committed  to  their 
charge  !  How  wise  ought  they  to  be  in  discriminating 
and  explaining ;  how  courageous  in  defending  ;  how 
firm  in  "  holding  fast,"  and  how  diligent  in  proposing, 
recommending  and  enforcing  the  truth  on  all  around 
them  !  The  fact  is,  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  plead 
the  cause  of  "  sound  doctrine,"  in  the  present  world, 
are  like  mariners  rowing  against  both  wind  and  tide. 
To  make  head-way,  requires  incessant  exertion. 
The  moment  it  is  intermitted,  without  a  miracle,  the 
current  bears  them,  and  all  the  interests  in  behalf  of 
which  they  plead,  rapidly  down  the  stream. 

6.  A  further  consideration  which  shows  the  im- 
portance of  ministers'  "  holding  fast,"  and  endea- 
vouring diligently  to  propagate  the  genuine  doctrines 
of  the  Bible,  is,  that  there  is,  every  where,  such  a  de- 


14 

plorable  lack  of  doctrinal  information  among  the  mass 
of  the  people. 

It  might  be  supposed  that  in  this  age  of  printing 
and  of  books,  and  especially  when  the  press  has  been, 
of  late,  so  much  enlisted  on  the  side  of  truth  and  piety, 
that  there  would  be  found,  at  any  rate  among  the 
friends  of  religion,  much  more  extended  reading,  and 
digested  knowledge,  than  in  any  former  times.  J3ut 
I  am  under  a  great  mistake  if  this  be  the  fact.  Half 
a  century  ago,  serious  professors  of  religion,  and 
especially  those  who  laid  claim  to  the  character  of 
intelligent  Christians,  were  much  more,  I  apprehend, 
in  the  habit  of  retired  and  careful  religious  reading, 
than  is  now  common.  Then  the  Bible,  though 
copies  of  it  were  not  so  multiplied  as  at  present,  was 
daily  and  abundantly  perused.  Then  the  popular 
writings  of  Owen,  Baxter,  F lav  el,  Charnock,  Bunyan, 
Manton,  Halyburton,  Watts,  Doddridge,  Dickinson, 
Edwards,  Bellamy,  and  a  number  more  of  the  same 
class,  were  found  on  the  shelves  of  most  pious  fami- 
lies connected  with  our  church,  and  other  evangeli- 
cal denominations  ; — were  read  with  some  degree  of 
intelligence  and  care  ;  and  recommended  to  the  rising 
generation.  But  has  not  this  laudable  habit,  within  a 
few  years  past,  fallen  into  comparative  disuse?  Do 
not  private  christians,  now,  commonly  spend  much 
less  time  in  storing  their  minds  with  scriptural  know- 
ledge than  formerly?  I  fear  we  cannot  deny  that 
such  is  the  fact.  For  this  fact  perhaps  two  reasons 
may  be  assigned. 

The  first  is,  that  professing  christians  of  the  present 
day  have  so  many  objects  of  public  enterprise  and 
exertion,  to  occupy  their  time,  and  engage  their  at- 
tention, that  they  are  often  tempted  to  slight  the 


15 

more  private,  and  less  attractive  duties  of  retirement 
and  devotion.  There  is  so  much  to  be  done  by  ever} 
man  of  zeal  and  energy,  in  helping  forward  the  mul- 
tiplied plans  of  Christian  benevolence  which  charac- 
terize the  present  period,  that,  unless  he  be  very 
careful  to  redeem  time,  and  possess  great  decision  of 
Christian  character,  he  will  often  find  the  duties  of 
the  closet  crowded  into  a  corner,  or,  perhaps,  occa- 
sionally, excluded  altogether,  by  his  public  engage- 
ments. Besides ;  there  is  something  in  the  very  na- 
ture of  zealous  efforts,  and  especially  of  public  efforts, 
to  extend  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  so  exciting,  so 
warming,  so  spirit-stirring,  that  they  are  adapted  to 
gratify  some  of  the  strongest  natural  feelings  as  well 
as  the  gracious  principles  of  men.  Hence  they  are 
often  more  attractive,  even  to  good  men,  than  those 
duties  which  include  less  of  public  exhibition,  and  of 
social  excitement.  The  consequence  is,  that  many, 
otherwise  exemplary  professors  of  religion,  who  are 
called  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  great  operations 
of  the  day,  spend  less  of  their  time  in  retirement  and 
devotion  ; — meditate  less — read  less — pray  less — ex- 
amine themselves  less  than  persons  equally  engaged 
in  religion,  were  wont  to  do  formerly ;  and,  of  course, 
employ  less  time  in  instructing  and  catechising  their 
children,  and  in  praying  with  them,  and  for  them. 
In  these  circumstances,  it  is  by  no  means  wonderful 
that  both  parents  and  children  should  manifest  much, 
less  digested  and  mature  scriptural  knowledge,  than 
the  multiplied  privileges  of  the  day  would  seem  to 
warrant  us  in  expecting. 

A  second  reason  for  the  undoubted  deficiency  of 
doctrinal  knowledge,  even  in  the  church,  may,  per- 
haps, be  drawn  from  the  light  and  ephemeral  charac- 


16 

ter  of  what  we  may  call  the  religious  literature  of  the 
day.  Have  not  religious  Newspapers,  and  other  light 
periodical  publications,  in  a  great  measure  taken  the 
place  of  the  larger  and  more  instructive  works  before 
alluded  to?  Publications  which,  by  their  number, 
have  left  little  time  for  other  reading ;  and  by  their 
superficial  character,  little  taste  for  reading  of  a  more 
deep,  solid  and  connected  kind.  Is  it  not  manifest, 
that  the  mass,  even  of  the  hopefully  pious,  have  a 
large  portion  of  their  reading  time  so  much  occupied, 
and  their  taste  so  much  formed,  b)  the  details  of  reli- 
gious intelligence  ;  by  the  exciting  eloquence  of  anni- 
versaries ;  and  by  the  pungent  discussion  to  which 
new  projects  and  controversies  give  rise  ;  that  they 
have  seldom  much  relish  for  the  calm  study  of  evan- 
gelical truth,  or  even  for  the  retired  and  prayerful 
perusal  of  the  Scriptures  ?  What  proportion  of  pri- 
vate Christians  at  the  present  day,  with  all  the  mul- 
tiplication and  almost  universal  circulation  of  weekly 
and  monthly  journals,  which  profess  to  diffuse  reli- 
gious knowledge,  would  be  able,  think  you,  to  defend 
their  professed  creed  against  a  plausible  adversary, 
or  to  give  an  intelligent  "  reason  of  the  hope  that  is 
in  them"  ?  I  am  afraid  a  very  small  proportion  in- 
deed. Nay,  is  there  not  some  reason  to  fear,  that 
even  Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  in  many  cases,  lmve 
their  reading  too  much  confined  to  the  passing  pe- 
riodical works  of  the  day;  if  not  to  the  exclusion,  at 
least  to  the  lamentable  diminution  of  thai  profounder 
and  more  mature  study  to  which  the  spiritual  teachers 
and  guides  of  the  people  ought  to  be  ever  habitually 

addicted  ? My  friends,  I  make  no  charge  ;  I  prefer 

no  accusation  against    those  whom  I  now  address. 
But  I,  most  respectfully,  oiler  these  queries  to  your 


n 

serious  and  impartial  consideration.  How  far  they 
may  be  considered  as  applying  to  the  religions  popu- 
lation of  this  City  and  neighbourhood,  1  know  not. 
But.  there  are  neighbourhoods,  to  which,  my  better 
acquaintance  with  their  state  enables  me  to  say,  that 
they  are  by  no  means  inapplicable. 

You  will  not  consider  me,  I  trust,  as  intending  to 
proscribe,  or  even  to  censure,  religious  periodical 
publications.  When  wisely  conducted,  and  not  in- 
ordinately multiplied,  they  deserve  to  be  regarded  as 
among  the  rich  blessings  of  the  day  in  which  we  live ; 
and  those  who  refuse  to  patronize  them,  deprive 
themselves,  and,  so  far  as  their  example  goes,  deprive 
the  Church  of  God,  of  an  invaluable  auxiliary.  But 
when  publications  of  this  kind  become  so  numerous 
as  to  impoverish  and  enfeeble  one  another,  and  render 
it  difficult  for  any  to  attain  the  highest  excellence : 
and,  especially,  when  persons  altogether  inadequate 
to  the  task  of  instructing  and  guiding  the  religious 
public,  undertake  to  be  their  conductors,  merely  "for 
a  piece  of  bread  ;"  they  can  only  be  sources  of  paltry 
amusement.  Solid  intellectual  and  moral  nutrition, 
it  is  impossible  they  should  furnish.  Wherever  this 
is  the  case,  the  consequences  cannot  fail  of  being 
deplorable.  There  will,  almost  necessarily,  ensue,  a 
diminished  attention  to  Christian  doctrine  ;  of  course 
a  diminished  knowledge  of  it ;  and,  consequently,  a 
constant  liability  to  be  "  carried  about  by  every  wind 
of  doctrine,"  to  which  ignorance,  vanity,  or  fanati- 
cism may  attempt  to  give  currency  in  the  community. 
And,  accordingly,  how  often  have  we  seen,  to  our 
astonishment,  not  only  individual  professors,  but, 
perhaps,  considerable  portions  of  particular  churches, 
which  we  once  thought  as  well  instructed  and  ex- 


"         '    -— ■»- 


18 

emplary  as  almost  any  among  us,  borne  away  by  the 
very  first  onset  of  some  plausible  errorist,  and  making 
a  temporary,  if  not  a  final  "  shipwreck  of  the  faith"  ! 
Now,  such  being  the  deplorable  deficiency  of  sound 
and  discriminating  Christian  knowledge,  among  the 
mass,  even  of  serious,  and  otherwise  exemplary, 
professors ;  is  it  not  peculiarly  important  that  some 
counteracting  influence  should  be  found  and  applied  ? 
And  to  whom  are  we  to  look,  under  God,  for  this 
influence,  but  to  the  Leaders  and  Guides  of  the 
Church  ?  If,  as  the  Prophet  informs  us,  "  the  Priest's 
lips  are  to  keep  knowledge,"  surely  there  are  none  to 
whom  we  can  more  rightfully  turn  for  relief,  than  to 
the  ministers  of  religion.  And  I  will  venture  to  say, 
that  there  cannot  be  a  characteristic  prevalence  of 
popular  ignorance  where  they  are  duly  faithful,  in  the 
various  ways  which  their  office  demands,  in  "  feeding 
the  people  with  knowledge  and  with  understanding." 

7.  The  diffusion  of  sound  religious  doctrine  through 
all  classes  of  the  community,  is  one  of  the  surest 
means  of  establishing  and  pe?'petuating  our  national 
privileges. 

We  often,  my  friends,  congratulate  ourselves  on 
the  free  constitutions  of  government  under  which  we 
are  so  happy  as  to  live.  That  our  lot  is  cast  in  a 
land  where  the  People,  under  God,  are  supreme ; 
where  we  are  not  called  to  bow  to  the  will  of  a 
crowned  despot,  or  to  the  oppression's  of  privileged 
orders :  Where  we  have  no  ecclesiastical  establish- 
ments ;  but  where,  under  governments  of  our  own 
choice,  and  laws  of  our  own  formation,  all  enjoy 
those  "equal  rights  to  which  the  laws  of  nature,  and 
of  nature's  God  entitle  them."      And  we  may  well 


19 

congratulate  ourselves,  and  be  thankful  for  these 
privileges.  The  great  Governor  of  the  world  "  hath 
not  dealt  so  with  any  other  nation."  "  The  lines  are 
fallen  unto  us  in  pleasant  places,  yea  we  have  a 
goodly  heritage."  And  our  prayer,  as  patriots,  and 
as  Christians  ought  to  be,  that  these  inestimable 
blessings  may  be  preserved  and  transmitted,  un- 
impaired, to  the  latest  generations. 

But  hoiv,  think  you,  my  respected  hearers,  may  we 
rationally  hope  that  these  blessings  will  be  preserved 
inviolate,  and  transmitted  to  a  distant  posterity  ?  I 
take  for  granted  every  individual  in  this  assembly  is, 
in  his  judgment  convinced  that  such  a  hope  cannot 
be  realized  without  the  general  prevalence  of  Chris- 
tian principle.  An  ignorant  people,  must  be  an  irreli- 
gious people.  An  irreligious  people  must  be  an  im- 
moral people.  And  an  immoral  people  must  be  a 
miserable  people.  That  such  a  people  should  be  long 
free,  is  just  as  impossible  as  that  light  and  darkness 
should  agree,  or  that  the  relation  of  cause  and  effect 
should  cease.  Many,  indeed,  tell  us,  that  literature 
and  philosophy,  without  the  fear  of  God,  without  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  will  restrain,  purify,  and  regulate 
men,  and  generate  the  purest  and  most  efficient  pa- 
triotism. Nay,  it  is  the  favourite  theory  of  some, 
given  up  to  the  insanity  of  infidel  fanaticism — the 
most  blind  and  senseless  of  all  fanaticism — that  the 
only  hope  of  perfecting  and  perpetuating  the  social 
system,  in  its  best  form,  is,  to  reject  the  religion  of 
Christ ;  to  renounce  the  laws  of  Marriage  and  of  the 
Sabbath;  and,  in  short,  to  throw  off' most  of  the  re- 
straints which  the  religious  and  moral  code,  under 
which  we  are  so  happy  as  to  live,  imposes.  But  be- 
lieve them  not.     As  well  might  they  tell  us  that  we 


20 

must  all  turn  brutes  in  order  to  be  perfect  and  happy 
mcn.  No,  the  native  fruit  of  their  unhallowed  system, 
is,  that  selfishness,  avarice,  profligate  ambition,  fraud, 
violence,  luxury,  and  unbridled  sensuality,  which 
have  always  been  the  great  destroyers  of  Republics, 
and  which,  if  ever  they  become  generally  character- 
istic of  our  population,  will  as  infallibly  destroy  ws, 
and  deliver  us  up,  either  to  the  most  horrible  anarchy, 
or  to  the  gloomiest  tyranny,  as  ever  they  did  the  most 
miserable  of  our  predecessors. 

These  things  being  so,  can  any  one  possibly  doubt 
that  the  diligent  diffusion  of  pure  religious  knowledge 
is  of  inestimable  importance  to  the  best  interests  of 
our  beloved  country  ?-That  enlightened  patriotism,  as 
well  as  piety,  ought  to  labour  unceasingly  to  impart  it 
to  all  classes  of  the  community,  and  especially  to  the 
rising  generation  ?  No,  my  friends,  mathematical 
demonstration  never  conducted  any  man  to  a  more 
unquestionable  result.  Whether  I  were  called  upon, 
then,  to  address  you  as  good  citizens,  or  as  faithful 
Christians,  I  would  say  to  you  all,  and  more  particu- 
larly to  those  of  your  number  who  bear  the  office  of 
the  holy  ministry — Give  all  diligence  to  impart  pure, 
Bible  know  ledge  to  all  within  your  reach — to  old  and 
young,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  bond  and  free. 
Teach  them  the  character  of  God,  and  the  relations 
which  we  all  equally  bear  to  him.  Teach  them  the 
condition  of  our  race,  by  nature,  as  polluted,  guilty 
sinners  in  the  sight  of  their  heavenly  Sovereign. 
Teach  them  the  way  of  pardon  and  sanctification 
through  the  atoning  sacrifice,  and  life-giving  Spirit  of 
the  Divine  Redeemer,  and  the  endearing  ties  by  which 
the  principles  of  our  "  common  salvation"  bind  to- 
gether the  whole  human  family.     Teach  them  that 


21 

all  men  are  by  nature  equal  in  the  sight  of  God ;  and, 
therefore,  that  all  tyranny  and  oppression  are  objects 
of  his  righteous  abhorrence.  Teach  them  that  the 
"  kingdom  of  Christ  is  not  of  this  world ;"  and, 
therefore,  that  every  species  of  alliance  between 
Church  and  State  is  forbidden,  and  can  never  fail  to 
become  a  curse  to  both.  Teach  them  to  abhor  those 
vices  which  the  laws  of  man  cannot  reach,  but  which 
do  more  to  undermine  and  destroy  social  happiness 
than  a  volume  could  unfold.  Teach  them  to  love 
those  graces  and  virtues,  which  human  authority  can- 
not enforce,  but  which  are  vital  to  the  establishment 
of  social  prosperity. — Teach  them  faithfully  and  dili- 
gently these  things — and  you  cannot  take  a  more 
direct  course  to  lift  up  their  minds  above  every  thing 
that  is  grovelling  and  corrupt ;  to  curb  their  unruly 
appetites  ;  to  restrain  their  unhallowed  passions  ;  to 
banish  fraud,  intemperance  and  voluptuousness,  from 
the  land ;  to  promote  industry,  self-denial,  modera- 
tion, and  universal  order,  justice,  purity  and  benevo- 
lence. You  cannot  take  a  more  direct  and  certain 
course  to  render  the  insidious  demagogue  despised, 
and  to  deprive  the  profligate  votary  of  ambition  of  all 
his  influence  ;  to  inspire  a  love  of  liberty,  and  to  pro- 
mote the  prevalence  of  the  purest  patriotism.  You 
cannot  employ  a  more  infallible  means  to  secure  a 
faithful  use  of  the  elective  franchise,  and,  conse- 
quently, to  exalt  the  wise  and  the  good  to  stations  of 
authority.  You  cannot,  in  a  word,  take  a  more  direct 
course  to  establish  the  reign  of  all  those  principles, 
sentiments  and  habits,  which,  a  thousand-fold  more 
than  constitutions  and  laws,  tend  to  perpetuate  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  and  social  happiness. 

3 


22 

Christians  !  ministers  of  the  gospel !  here  lies  our 
country's  fairest,  best,  only  hope !  To  those  who 
love  the  cause  of  Christ,  is  committed,  under  God, 
her  precious  destiny.  Spread  Christian  knowledge 
in  every  direction.  Never  rest  satisfied  while  there 
is  a  dark  corner  of  our  land  unfurnished  with  faithful 
Bible  instruction  ;  and  you  will  transmit,  unimpaired, 
our  precious  privileges  as  a  people  to  that  bright  and 
blessed  day  of  millenial  glory,  when  "  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world  shall  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord, 
and  of  his  Christ ;" — and  when  "  the  knowledge  and 
glory  of  God  shall  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters 
cover  the  sea." 

8.  Bat  further;  the  Great  Operations  of  the  day  in 
which  we  live,  call  for  special  attention  and  diligence 
in  regard  to  the  object  for  which  I  plead. 

It  is  one  of  the  glories,  my  friends,  of  the  period  in 
which  our  lot  is  cast,  that  professing  christians  of 
almost  every  denomination  have  come  together,  and 
are  more  and  more  coming  together,  for  the  purpose 
of  uniting  their  efforts  to  send  Bibles,  religious  Tracts, 
the  living  Missionary,  and  the  system  of  Sabbath 
Schools,  throughout  the  world.  I  repeat  it,  this  is 
one  of  the  great  glories  of  the  day  in  which  we  live. 
Every  minister,  and  every  christian  who  is  so  happy 
as  to  live  at  this  day,  ought  to  be  thankful  for  it  as  a 
great  privilege ;  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  hal- 
lowed co-operation  ;  and  to  cheer  it  on  by  his  ex- 
ample, his  exertions,  and  his  substance,  as  well  as 
by  his  prayers.  If  there  be  a  minister  or  a  professing 
Christian,  who  looks  coldly  upon  these  great  plans  of 
christian  benevolence,  and  refuses  to  put  his  hand  to 
the  work, — I  "judge  him  not ;"  but  he  really  seems  to 


23 

me  to  stand  very  near,  if  not  actually  in,  the  ranks  oi' 
those  who  "  will  not  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord 
against  the  mighty,"  and  who  are  placed  in  no  very 
enviable  eminence  in  the  sacred  history. 

Be  it  remembered,  however,  that  one  fundamental 
principle  of  this  noble  union  is,  that  all  the  denomi- 
nations which  are  parties  to  it,  promise  neither  to 
compromit,  nor  to  invade  the  peculiarities  of  each 
other.  The  publications  circulated  are  of  a  general 
character,  in  which  they  all  agree.  The  practical 
language  of  their  union  is  to  the  following  amount. 
"  We  will  agree  to  act  together,  for  the  sake  of  acting 
Avith  more  strength,  and  upon  a  greater  scale.  To 
a  certain  extent,  we  are  entirely  united,  both  in 
principle  and  practice.  To  that  extent,  we  can  gor- 
dially  co-operate  without  difficulty.  And  as  to  the 
peculiar  doctrines  which  the  pious  Presbyterian,  the 
pious  Episcopalian,  or  the  pious  Methodist  may  wish 
to  see  circulated  within  the  limits  of  his  own  deno- 
mination ;  let  the  Pastors  and  Teachers,  within  the 
respective  bounds  of  each,  take  care,  in  addition  to 
the  general  measures,  which  are  not  sectarian,  to 
provide  for  conveying  that  appropriate  instruction 
which  each  may  deem  desirable  and  important." 

This  is  fair,  honourable,  and  christian-like.  But 
let  me  request  you  to  take  particular  notice,  that  the 
faithful  and  happy  execution  of  this  admirable  plan, 
not  only  allows,  but  really  requires,  that  each  parti- 
cular denomination  engaged  in  carrying  it  on,  be 
careful  not  to  neglect,  or  even  slight,  either  of  its 
parts.  While,  on  the  one  hand,  they  cordially  act 
upon  the  principles  of  their  union,  and  circulate  the 
general  publications  which  they  have  agreed  in  form- 
ing, '  through  every  part  of  the  land ;  on  the  other. 


24 

each  party  is  no  less  bound,  by  an  implied  pledge,  lo 
be  diligent  in  instructing  its  own  population,  and 
especially  its  own  children  and  young  people,  in  its 
own  peculiar  views  of  truth  and  order.  If  this  be 
not  done,  either  many  discerning  and  zealous  indi- 
viduals, of  each  denomination,  will  withdraw  from 
the  Union,  as  not  faithfully  executed,  and  as  adapted, 
ultimately,  to  deceive  and  ensnare :  or,  the  next 
generation  will  grow  up  in  a  great  measure  unin- 
doctrinated  ;  or,  to  speak  in  the  most  guarded  terms, 
very  far  from  being  instructed  in  theological  truth  in 
that  accurate  and  discriminating  manner  which  the 
enlightened  guardians  of  "  the  household  of  faith" 
know  to  be  important. 

Under  this  impression,  if  I  could  speak  to  every 
Presbyterian  Minister  and  Church  in  the  United 
States,  it  would  be  in  the  following  language — If  you 
desire  to  see  different  denominations  of  Christians 
more  and  more  united  in  affection  and  effort ;  if  you 
wish  well  to  the  great  Institutions  of  pious  benevo- 
lence, round  which,  and  in  behalf  of  which  the  fol- 
lowers of  Christ,  of  different  names,  are  rallying  with 
holy  zeal ;  if  you  wish  them  to  remain,  and  to  be- 
come more  and  more,  great  public  blessings  ; — if  you 
desire  to  see  them  firmly  sustained  by  public  senti- 
ment, and  adapted  to  answer  public  expectation  ; 
nay,  if  you  do  not  wish  to  find  them  cheating  your- 
selves and  your  children  into  comparative  ignorance, 
or,  at  least,  superficiality,  in  Christian  doctrine ; — 
watch  over  the  Sabbath  Schools,  and  the  Bible  Classes 
in  your  respective  congregations  with  intense  interest. 
Carry  into  them,  and  unfold,  with  unremitting  dili- 
gence, those  views  of  Gospel  truth  which  you  honest- 
ly believe  to  be  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God.     Add 


25 

to  the  Sabbath  School  lesson,  such  excellent  and 
scriptural  formularies  of  doctrine,  as  shall  prepare 
your  youthful  charge  to  receive,  not  merely  a  meagre 
outline,  but  a  strong  and  well  delineated  portrait  of 
that  blessed  system  of  "  grace  and  truth,"  which  it 
is  happy  for  every  one  to  know,  "  from  a  child,"  as 
distinctly  and  clearly  as  possible.  Follow  the  Tract, 
which,  as  a  powerful  pioneer,  has  gone  before  you, 
and  prepared  the  way ; — follow  it,  as  far  as  possible, 
with  still  deeper  instruction  in  the  precious  general 
truths  which  it  unfolds.  Remember  that,  although 
the  whole  Christian  world  is  in  motion,  the  great 
movements  of  the  day  embrace  no  plan  for  the  dis- 
semination of  sound,  distinguishing  doctrine.  There 
is  no  Institution,  no  Society  which  has  for  its  object 
that  on  behalf  of  which  I  plead  in  this  discourse.  It 
is  left  to  be  pursued  by  the  Pastors  and  other  Officers, 
and,  with  their  aid,  by  all  the  members  of  our  re- 
spective Churches.  Thus  you  will  guard  against  the 
evils  which  some  have  predicted,  as  likely  to  arise 
from  union  in  these  operations.  You  will  contribute 
your  share  to  render  the  Institutions  of  which  we 
speak  more  extensively  useful ;  more  firmly  popular ; 
and  a  richer  blessing  to  yourselves  and  your  children. 
Nay,  strange  as  it  may  seem  to  some,  you  will  do 
more  to  harmonize  and  unite  Christians  of  different 
denominations  in  every  hallowed  affection  and  enter- 
prise, than  by  any  other  course  you  can  possibly 
pursue. 

9.  Once  more  ;  the  great  importance  of  diffusing 
sound,  scriptural  knowledge  among  the  people,  not 
only  appears  from  the  character  of  the  day  in  which 
we. live  ;  but  also  from  the  character  of  those  days 
which  ive  hope  and  believe  are  approaching. 


26 

That  times  of  deep  interest  to  the  Church  and  the 
world  are  hastening  on,  the  watchmen  on  the  walls  of 
Zion  seem  generally  to  agree.  When  we  are  asked, 
indeed,  what  will  be  the  precise  aspect  and  bearing  of 
these  coming  scenes,  we  dare  not  venture  to  foretel 
in  detail.  But  that  two  features  will  be  very  pro- 
minent and  impressive,  I  think  we  may  venture, 
without  presumption,  confidently  to  anticipate.  In 
the  first  place,  we  may  hope  that  the  approaching 
times  will  be  distinguished  by  Revivals  of  Religion, 
more  frequent,  more  extensive,  and  more  glorious 
than  we  have  ever  been  accustomed  to  contemplate : 
And,  secondly,  by  a  boldness  and  bitterness  of 
opposition,  on  the  part  of  the  enemies  of  the  Gospel, 
no  less  marked,  and  beyond  all  former  precedent. 
Nowr,  unless  I  greatly  mistake,  it  is  of  the  utmost 
importance,  as  a  preparation  for  both  these  events, 
that  care  be  taken  to  spread  "  sound  doctrine,"  as 
deeply  and  extensively  as  possible,  through  every 
portion  of  the  community,  and  especially  among  the 
rising  generation. 

With  respect  to  the  importance  of  this  preparation 
for  revivals  of  Religion,  of  extraordinary  extent  and 
power,  it  is  so  obvious,  that  I  need  but  hint  at  the 
subject.  It  is  known,  by  painful  experience,  that 
powerful  effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit  are  often  ac- 
companied by  perversions  and  abuses,  which  tend,  at 
once,  to  tarnish  their  lustre,  and  to  arrest  their  pro- 
gress. False  zeal,  extravagance,  ebullitions  of  ani- 
mal sympathy,  enthusiasm,  and  various  kinds  of  dis- 
order, have  so  often  followed  in  the  train  of  undoubted 
operations  of  the  grace  of  God,  that  many  have  been 
prejudiced  against  revivals  of  religion  altogether,  and 
been  ready  to  pronounce  them  all  a  miserable  delu- 


27 

sion,  and  the  very  term,  a  watchword  of  fanaticism. 
Now,  there  is  hardly  any  point  respecting  which 
enlightened  and  pious  divines  are  more  agreed,  than 
that  the  irregularities  and  extravagancies  to  which  I 
have  just  alluded,  are  most  apt  to  occur  among  a 
people  comparatively  uninstructed  on  the  subject  of 
Religion.  When  such  a  people  have  so  great  a  sub- 
ject powerfully  presented  to  them,  not  only  in  the 
preaching  of  the  word,  but  also  in  the  visible  triumphs 
of  its  Divine  energy  ;  no  wonder  they  are  often  ex- 
cited in  a  manner,  and  fall  into  disorders,  which  in- 
telligent Christians  contemplate  with  regret.  Power- 
ful feeling,  without  enlightened  judgment  to  controul 
it ;  ardent  "  zeal,  without  knowledge"  to  regulate  it, 
have  been,  in  all  ages,  the  bane  both  of  the  purity  and 
the  order  of  the  Church.  Whereas  all  experience 
testifies,  that  such  excesses  and  disorders  seldom 
occur,  and,  certainly,  are  much  less  likely  to  occur,  in 
Churches  in  which  the  people  have  been  early  and 
carefully  trained  in  the  knowledge  of  divine  truth. 
Such  a  people  will  have  the  best  defence  against 
enthusiasm,  against  fanaticism,  against  superstition, 
against  all  the  forms  in  which  "  strange  fire"  is  apt  to 
burst  out,  and  work  mischief  in  seasons  of  excitement. 
If  ministers,  then,  wish  the  people  of  their  charge 
to  be  prepared  for  revivals  of  Religion  ;  to  profit  by 
them  most  effectually ;  and  to  be  carried  through 
them  in  a  happy  manner  ; — if  they  wish  revivals  to 
come  to  them  in  their  most  sound  and  genuine  cha- 
racter, and  to  leave  behind  them  their  happiest  re- 
sults ; — if  it  be  their  desire,  in  short,  that  the  fruits  of 
these  blessed  "  rains  of  righteousness"  should  be,  not 
stunted,  feeble,  and  short-lived  plants,  which,  having 
"  no  deepness  of  earth,"  will  speedily  wither  away ; — 


28 

but  firm,  lofty  and  thriving  trees,  fixed  deep  in  the 
soil  of  Christian  instruction  and  experience ; — let 
them  labour  without  ceasing  to  imbue  every  mind 
within  their  reach,  as  early  as  possible,  with  sound, 
Bible  doctrine ;  with  clear,  discriminating,  Scriptural 
knowledge. 

Of  no  less  importance  is  a  deep  and  intimate  know- 
ledge of  divine  truth,  as  a  preparation  for  days  of 
conflict  with  the  enemies  of  religion.  The  great  ad- 
versary, knowing  that  "  his  time  is  short,"  is  stirring 
up,  and  will,  probably,  more  and  more  stir  up,  infidels, 
skeptics,  heretics,  and,  perhaps,  some  formalists  who 
pass  for  orthodox, — to  oppose  the  claims  and  the 
progress  of  vital  piety ;  and  especially  the  claims  and 
the  progress  of  Christian  effort.  Effort  for  honouring 
the  Holy  Sabbath  ;  for  improving,  in  every  form,  the 
intellectual,  moral  and  religious  state  of  society  ;  and 
for  evangelizing  the  world  ; — For,  surely,  no  ultimate 
object  short  of  this,  can  bound  the  ambition  of  Chris- 
tians. Now,  there  seems  every  prospect  that  the 
opposition  of  which  I  speak  will  wax  louder  and 
stronger, — wielding  the  w  eapons  of  ridicule,  calumny, 
cruel  mockings,  and  every  form  of  reviling  that  bigot- 
ry, prejudice,  or  impiety  can  forge ; — until  it  shall 
reach  that  stage  of  warfare,  called  in  the  Apocalypse, 
"the  great  day  of  the  battle  of  God  Almighty."  A 
"  Battle"  which  is  destined,  not  long  hence,  to  divide, 
to  convulse,  and  to  emancipate  the  world. 

Now,  for  this  conflict,  in  all  its  stages,  one  of  the 
most  important  preparations  is  a  mature  and  thorough 
acquaintance  with  revealed  truth.  Hence  the  in- 
spired Apostle,  in  speaking  of  the  Christian's  contest 
witii  the  powers  of  darkness,  exhorts  him  to  take  the 
"  Sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  Word  of  God,"  as 


29 

one  of  the  most  indispensable  and  efficient  portions  of 
his  armour.     Accordingly,  it  is  observable,  that  our 
blessed  Saviour,  in  resisting  the  devil,  when  exposed 
to  his  severest  temptation  in  the  wilderness,  resorted 
to  the  Scriptures  of  truth  as  his  principal  weapon. 
To  the  most  insidious  attempts  to  ensnare  him,  his 
reply  constantly  was—"  It  is  written"—"  It  is  writ- 
ten."     Before  this  weapon   even  Satan  could  not 
stand.     He  cowered  and  withdrew,  abashed  and  de- 
feated.    And  whenever  a  similar  conflict  with  the 
powers  of  darkness  and  their  emissaries,  shall  come 
upon  any  of  "  the  dwellers  upon  earth,"  to  "  try  the 
spirits"  of  men,  and  especially  to  "  sift  as  wheat"  the 
ranks  of  professors ;    happy  will  those  be  who  shall 
be  found  enlightened  and  confirmed,  as  well  as  sincere 
and   warm-hearted   Christians!     Happy,    and   only 
happy,  in  that  day,  will  those  be,  who  shall  be  found 
intelligently  "holding  fast  the  faithful  word,"  and 
"  ready  to  give  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  them 
with  meekness  and  fear"  !     These  are  the  men  to 
triumph  in  perilous  service,  and  to  display  the  power 
of  Christian  courage  and  magnanimity.     These,  when 
the  storm  rages,  will  be  found  stable  and  safe  as  the 
Rock  on  which  their  feet  are  placed.     A  little  band 
of  them  will  do  more  to  strike  terror  into  the  ranks 
of  error  and  sirt,  and  to  "  turn  to  flight  the  armies  of 
the  aliens,"  than  thousands  of  your  superficial  pro- 
fessors, who  have  little  or  no  "  root  in  themselves," 
and  who,  "  when  tribulation  or  persecution  ariseth, 
because  of  the  word,  by  and  by  will  be  offended ;" 
and  either  openly  turn  traitors  to  the  best  of  causes ; 
or,  before  they  are  aware,  be  swept  from  their  appa- 
rent standing,  by  the  power  of  the  foe,  and  fall,  with 
their  whole  weight,  into  his  unhallowed  territory. 

1 


30 

Having  dwelt  so  long  on  the  importance  of  main- 
taining and  diffusing  "  sound  doctrine,"  let  us  next, 

II.  Inquire,  in  what  manner,  and  by  what  means 
this  duty  ought  to  be  fulfilled  ? 

Into  this  wide  field  we  cannot  enter  at  large.  A 
lew  brief  hints  can  alone  be  offered.     And, 

1.  We  are  to  maintain  pure  evangelical  truth  firm- 
ly and  earnestly.  "  Contend,"  says  the  inspired 
Apostle, — "  Contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once 
delivered  to  the  saints."  Many,  indeed,  entertain  a 
prejudice  against  all  controversy  on  the  subject  of 
religious  doctrine,  and  imagine  that  it  is  never  pro- 
ductive of  any  thing  but  evil.  But  this  is  a  prejudice 
merely,  and  a  prejudice  as  unreasonable  as  it  is  un- 
scriptural.  If  the  truth  of  God's  word  be  really  of 
sufficient  value  to  be  worth  defending ;  if  there  be 
multitudes  in  the  world  who  continually  hate  and 
oppose  it ;  and  if  it  cannot  be  maintained  and  pro- 
pagated without  frequently  pleading  in  its  behalf 
against  "  gainsayers ;" — then  controversy,  even  reli- 
gious controversy,  is  sometimes  unavoidable.  The 
Prophets,  the  Apostles,  nay  Christ  himself,  often 
engaged  in  controversy  ;  and  have  made  it  our  duty, 
by  precept  as  well  as  by  example,  whenever  it  is 
necessary,  to  do  the  same.  But  we  need  go  no  fur- 
ther than  our  context,  for  an  express  authority  to 
this  effect.  The  Apostle,  in  the  very  next  verse,  to 
enforce  the  duty  of  "  holding  fast  the  faithful  word," 
and  maintaining  "  sound  doctrine,"  observes — "  For 
there  are  many  unruly  and  vain  talkers  and  deceivers, 
whose  mouths  must  be  stopped,  teaching  things  which 
they  ought  not,  for  filthy  lucre's  sake.     Wherefore 


31 

rebuke  them  sharply,  that  they  may  be  sound  in  th% 
faith."  I  grant,  indeed,  that  this  duty  is  often  a  self- 
denying  and  painful  one.  But  this  is  no  reason  why 
it  should  not  be  considered  as  sometimes  incumbent 
upon  us.  It  is  not  pleasant  to  be  called  upon  to  defend 
our  property  against  robbers,  or  our  lives  against 
assassins.  But  as  long  as  there  are  robbers  and  as- 
sassins in  the  world,  we  must  submit  to  the  necessity 
of  resisting  their  violence.  In  like  manner,  as  long 
as  there  are  opposers  and  revilers  of  the  truth,  it  will 
be  a  part  of  that  "  good  fight  of  faith,"  which  we  are 
commanded  to  maintain,  to  defend  it  with  firmness 
and  zeal  against  every  hostile  invader. 

2.  While  we  maintain  the  truth  Jirmly  and  ear- 
nestly, we  ought,  at  the  same  time,  to  do  it  mildly, 
and,  as  far  as  possible,  inoffensively  ;  with  "  the 
meekness  and  gentleness  of  Christ."  Not  haughtily, 
or  dogmatically  ;  but  in  the  spirit  of  Christian  bene- 
volence. Not  harshly,  or  with  unnecessary  severity ; 
but  with  paternal  affection.  Not  after  the  manner  of 
the  "  disputers  of  this  world  ;"  but,  like  a  messenger 
from  above,  intent,  not  on  victory,  but  on  doing  good. 
Not  as  though  we  had  "  dominion  over  the  faith"  of 
our  hearers  ;  but  as  humble  helpers  of  their  spiritual 
benefit.  For  this  purpose,  we  ought  to  make  con- 
stant appeals  to  the  authority  of  the  Master  whose 
truth  we  dispense ;  illustrating  Scripture  by  Scrip- 
ture ;  and  going  continually  to  the  Sacred  Oracles  for 
all  our  positions,  and  all  our  weapons ;  remembering 
that  one,  "  thus  saith  the  Lord,"  is  worth  a  thousand 
of  our  own  philosophical  deductions,  however  plausi- 
ble or  imposing.  In  short,  I  am  constrained  to  believe 
that,  even  in  defending  the  most  precious  truth,  it  is 


34 

(he  piouj  Waldensesy  in  the  dark  ages,  solemnly 
recorded,  at  different  periods,  that  testimony  to  the 
truth  and  order  of  the  Gospel,  which  rendered  them 
"  lights  in  the  world"  while  they  flourished ;  and 
have  served  to  illuminate  and  encourage  the  steps  ol 
millions  in  succeeding  times.  And  it  is  thus  that  our 
beloved  Church,  by  her  ecclesiastical  Formularies, 
bears  witness  to  the  truth,  amidst  the  multiplied  cor- 
ruptions in  doctrine  and  order  with  which  she  is  sur- 
rounded. She  claims  for  these  Formularies  no  in- 
trinsic authority  whatever.  The  Bible  is  her  only 
rule  of  faith  and  practice.  Her  Confession  of  Faith 
and  Catechisms  are  her  public  and  solemn  testimony, 
as  a  Church,  to  what  she  deems  the  doctrines  of  the 
Bible.  Of  course,  to  depart  from  these,  is,  in  her 
opinion,  to  depart  from  the  only  infallible  rule.  So 
far,  then,  as  ecclesiastical  Formularies  are  founded 
on  the  word  of  God  ; — so  long  as  they  speak  its  lan- 
guage, and  breathe  its  spirit ; — and  unless  they  do 
this,  they  are  unworthy  of  being  received  at  all ; — 
but  so  long  as  they  bear  this  character,  it  is  incum- 
bent on  all  the  members,  and  especially  on  all  the 
Leaders  and  Guides  of  the  Church,  to  honour  them  ; 
to  hold  them  fast ;  and  carefully  to  employ  them  for 
the  great  purposes  which  they  were  intended  to  an- 
swer ;  that  is,  for  imbuing  the  youthful  mind  with 
the  elements  of  evangelical  truth  ;  and  for  securing 
soundness  in  the  faith  in  those  who  are  introduced  to 
the  offices  of  teaching  and  ruling  in  the  Church. 
When,  therefore,  these  formularies  are  duly  respect- 
ed, and  faithfully  employed,  in  their  appropriate  cha- 
racter :  when  Ministers,  Elders,  and  Parents,  in  their 
respective  charges,  are  found  applying  them  with 
diligence  to  the  youth  under  their  care  :  when  tire 


35 

Sabbath-School,  the  Catechetical  Class,  and  the  do- 
mestic circle,  can  all  bear  testimony  to  the  fidelity 
with  which  they  are  sustained :  And,  finally,  when 
ecclesiastical  Judicatories,  faithful  to  the  spirit  and 
purpose  of  these  public  Standards,  close  the  door  of 
admission  to  office  in  the  Church,  against  all  who 
are  known  to  be  unfriendly  to  them ;— then,  and  then 
only,  can  they  be  said  to  act,  with  fidelity,  in  the 
spirit  of  our  text. 

5.  Again;  it  is  important  that  we  maintain  and 
propagate  sound  doctrine  in  its  proper  connection 
and  order.  Not  that  it  is  necessary  formally  to 
exhibit  to  every  one  a  complete  system  of  divinity  -t 
or  to  aim  at  making  all  around  us  systematic  divines. 
Still,  in  the  world  of  grace,  as  well  as  of  nature,  one 
thing  is  connected  with  another.  There  is  a  real 
plan  and  order  in  which  Gospel  truths  impart  light, 
strength  and  glory  to  each  other.  And,  accordingly, 
we  read  in  Scripture  of  "  the  proportion  of  faith,"  of 
«  the  analogy  of  faith,"  and  of  « the  first  principles 
of  the  doctrine  of  Christ ;"  plainly  implying,  that  the 
genuine  Gospel  of  Christ  is  a  connected,  proportion- 
ate, consistent,  orderly  system  ;  and  that  the  relation 
of  its  parts  ought  by  no  means  to  be  neglected,  either 
in  studying  them  for  ourselves,  or  in  imparting  them 
to  others.  The  most  illiterate  and  youthful  minds,  I 
am  persuaded,  are  often  profited  by  an  attention  to 
this  point,  on  the  part  of  their  teachers,  even  before 
they  are  capable  of  perceiving  the  fact,  and  far  less  of 
understanding  its  reason. 

And  here  I  cannot  resist  the  conviction  that  a  word 
ought  to  be  said  in  favour  of  a  method  of  instruction, 
h%hly  prized  and  much  practised  by  our  Fathers,  but 


36 

which  toe,  their  children,  have  suffered  to  tall  into 
comparative  disuse.  I  mean  that  plan  of  pulpit  in- 
struction commonly  called  Expounding,  or  Lecturing. 
The  method  of  preaching  on  single,  insulated  texts, 
now  almost  universal,  was  scarcely  known  in  the 
Church  until  about  the  thirteenth  century.  The 
effect  of  this  innovation  has  been,  to  render  the 
Preacher  more  prominent  than  the  "faithful  Wordf 
which  he  professes  to  explain  ;  and,  consequently,  to 
diminish  a  taste  for  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  in 
their  connection.  What  we  style  Lecturing,  or  ex- 
pounding large  passages  of  the  sacred  text,  was,  un- 
doubtedly, the  primitive  mode  of  preaching  ;  and, 
although  certainly  the  most  difficult  of  execution  ; 
yet  when  well  conducted,  by  far  the  most  profitable, 
both  to  the  preacher  himself,  and  to  his  hearers.  It 
constrains  the  preacher  to  study  the  contents  of  the 
Bible  in  their  instructive  connection  ;  to  be  familiar 
with  every  part  of  the  Scriptures ;  to  treat  all  classes 
of  subjects  ;  and  to  be  in  the  habit  of  explaining  the 
Bible  by  itself.  And,  where  he  expounds  a  ivhole 
book  in  course,  he  has  his  subject,  for  one  part  of  the 
day  at  least,  always  before  him,  for  weeks  if  not 
months  together,  so  that  he  cannot  lose  a  moment  in 
searching  for  a  text.  And  what  is  no  less  important, 
he  is  enabled  to  discuss  in  their  turn,  as  they  present 
themselves  on  the  sacred  page,  the  most  delicate  and 
unusual  topics,  either  of  doctrine  or  duty,  without 
incurring  the  charge  of  either  personality,  or  sinister 
design.  Nor  are  the  advantages  less  which  accrue 
to  the  hearers,  from  this  plan  of  preaching.  It  leads 
them  to  carry  their  Bibles  to  the  house  of  God ;  to 
meditate  much  there  on  the  faithful  word  ;  to  think 
of  it  more  frequently  at  home  ;    to  trace  its  conne#- 


37 

tion  with  more  interest ;  and  to  feel,  from  sabbath  to 
sabbath,  as  if  they  were  listening  to  Jehovah  himself, 
rather  than  to  the  humble  messenger  of  his  truth. 
When  pulpit  discourses  shall  become  less  of  eloquent 
orations  on  announced  subjects ;  and  more  of  simple, 
affectionate,  and  faithful  expositions  and  applications 
of  Scripture ;  they  will  become,  I  doubt  not,  more 
effectual  in  convincing  and  converting  sinners,  as 
well  as  in  building  up  believers  in  faith  and  holiness 
unto  salvation. 

6.  I  will  only  add,  it  is  important  that  sound  doc- 
trine be  maintained  and  propagated  in  a  distinguish- 
ing, practical  and  pointed  manner  ;  in  a  manner 
adapted  to  impress  the  heart  as  well  as  the  under- 
standing. We  are  not  to  communicate  truth  upon  a 
plan  calculated  to  promote  mere  frigid  orthodoxy ; 
but  upon  a  plan  suited  to  address,  and  to  win  every 
part  of  man's  nature ;  his  conscience,  his  will,  and 
his  affections,  as  well  as  his  intellectual  powers : — in 
short,  in  a  manner  which  amounts  to  what  the  Apostle 
styles,  "  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth,  and  giving 
to  every  one,  whether  saint  or  sinner,  his  portion  in 
due  season."  The  fact  is,  there  is  nothing  to  which 
depraved  man  is  more  prone,  even  after  turning  his 
attention  to  the  subject  of  religion,  than  to  rely  on 
something  formal,  external  and  speculative,  instead 
of  the  immoveable  Rock  which  is  laid  in  Zion.  Self- 
righteousness,  in  a  thousand  shapes,  is  the  grand 
delusion  of  our  nature.  And  it  is  evident  that  the 
spirit  of  self-righteousness  may  feed  upon  doctrines  as 
well  as  upon  works.  A  man,  as  one  strongly  ex- 
presses it,  "  may  be  frozen  to  the  very  seat  of  life,  in 
the  ice  of  orthodoxy."     He  may  have  the  heart  of  the 

5 


38 

veriest  Pharisee,  while  his  head  is  stored  with  th,« 
soundest  opinions.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance, 
then,  that  "  sound  doctrine"  be  presented,  not  as  a 
mere  system  of  speculations ;  but  as  a  body  of  vital 
principles ;  as  ever  pointing  to  experimental  piety, 
and  to  holy  practice,  and  as  of  no  ultimate  value 
without  both.  It  is  in  this  manner  that  the  great 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel  are  exhibited  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures ;  and  we  shall  never  be  so  likely  to  exhibit 
them  profitably,  as  when  we  adopt  the  same  plan,  and 
teach  "as  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth." 

The  foregoing  discussion  furnishes  matter  for  a 
variety  of  practical  inferences ;  to  some  of  which 
allow  me  to  request  your  serious  attention. 

1.  We  may  learn  from  this  subject  what  ought  to  be 
the  general  structure  and  character  of  Gospel  Sermons. 
Some  have  supposed,  and  have  explicitly  taught,  that 
the  only  legitimate  object  of  preaching  is  to  convey 
instruction;  to  inform,  the  understanding.  While 
others  have  gone  to  the  opposite  extreme,  and  have 
insisted  that  the  grand  object  aimed  at  in  Sermons 
ought  to  be,  not  to  convey  instruction  ;  but  to  impress 
the  moral  and  active  powers ;  to  excite,  to  alarm,  to 
awaken,  to  warm,  to  impel  to  action.  Now,  I  appre- 
hend that  that  discourse  is  of  very  little  value  as  a 
Gospel  Sermon,  which  is  formed,  exclusively,  upon 
either  of  these  plans.  The  proclamation  of  the  living 
Teacher  is  the  great  ordinance  of  God  for  awakening 
and  converting  the  world.  The  children  of  men  are 
asleep  in  sin  ;  and,  therefore,  need  rousing  as  well  as 
instruction.  On  the  one  hand,  then,  that  Sermon 
which  does  not  "  feed  the  people  with  knowledge 
nnd  with  understanding ;"  which  does  not  distinctly 


39 

and  clearly  exhibit  truth,  Gospel  truth,  as  the  basis  of 
all  genuine  feeling ;  as  the  groundwork  of  all  Scrip- 
tural excitement,  can  be  but  little  better  than  empty 
declamation.  For  no  excitement,  no  feeling,  no  con- 
viction can  be  of  any  value,  excepting  that  which  is 
produced  by  the  operation  of  truth,  or,  in  other  words, 
of  "  sound  doctrine,"  on  the  conscience  and  the  heart. 
On  the  other  hand,  that  Sermon  which  is  addressed 
to  the  intellect  alone,  and  which,  of  course,  is  not 
fitted  to  awaken  and  rouse,  labours  under  a  defect 
quite  as  essential.  It  leaves  out  of  view  some  of  the 
most  precious  powers  and  wants  of  the  soul.  This 
is  evident  from  the  fact,  that  a  man  may  be  doctrinally 
enlightened  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  and,  after 
all,  remain  a  devil  still.  The  celebrated  Ganganelli, 
perhaps  the  brightest  ornament  of  the  Papal  throne, 
since  the  rise  of  that  enormous  ecclesiastical  usurpa- 
tion, in  one  of  his  "  Letters,"  beautifully  remarks — 
"  If  a  preacher  only  instruct,  he  does  nothing  more 
"  than  prepare  the  mind.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  he 
"  only  affect  the  passions,  he  does  but  half  his  work ; 
"  he  leaves  but  a  slight  and  temporary  impression. 
"  But  if  he  diffuse  the  light  of  truth,  while  he  scatters 
"  the  unction  of  grace,  he  well  fulfils  his  duty."  In 
short,  the  artillery  of  the  pulpit,  ought  to  resemble 
that  of  the  skies.  There  ought  to  be  thunder  as  well 
as  lightning.  And  then  may  we  hope  that,  by  the 
divine  blessing,  a  "  rain  of  righteousness"  will  plenti- 
fully descend. 

2.  We  may  infer  from  what  has  been  snid,  how 
infinitely  important  it  is  that  Ministers  carefully  study 
and  understand  the  truth ;  that  they  know  it  deeply, 
accurately,  and  systematically !    Perhaps  we  may  say, 


40 

that  the  primary  and  most  constant  employment  of 
every  faithful  minister,  is  to  present  truth — evangeli- 
cal truth,  to  the  minds  of  men,  for  their  sanctification. 
Whether  he  preaches,  or  catechises,  or  converses,  or 
visits  "  from  house  to  house  ;" — whether  he  opens  his 
mouth  in  the  public  sanctuary,  or  the  family,  or  the 
sabbath  school,  or  the  social  circle,  or  the  street,  or 
the  public  conveyance,  his  great  object  is,  or  ought  to 
be,  to  bring  truth  to  bear  on  the  minds  of  all  around 
him,  for  their  temporal  and  eternal  benefit.  Now,  it 
is  plain  that  nothing  but  truth  can  be  really  beneficial 
to  men.  And  it  is,  therefore,  only  so  far  as  we  pre- 
sent genuine  truth,  simple,  Bible  truth,  to  those  whom 
we  approach,  and  present  it  in  the  spirit  of  its  Au- 
thor, that  we  can  have  any  reasonable  hope  of  doing 
them  good.  This  being  the  case,  how  solemn,  nay, 
how  fearful,  is  the  responsibility  of  Gospel  Ministers, 
in  reference  to  the  doctrines  which  they  preach ! 
With  what  diligence  and  solicitude  ought  they,  above 
all  men,  to  seek  to  know  the  truth !  How  humbly, 
impartially,  prayerfully,  and  unceasingly  ought  they 
to  study  it !  How  ought  they  to  tremble  at  the  thought 
of  giving  the  people  their  own  notions,  instead  of  "  the 
faithful  word ;"  giving  them  that  on  which  they  may 
grow  lean,  and  starve,  nay,  by  which  they  may  be 
fatally  poisoned,  instead  of  dispensing  to  them  the 
"  Bread  of  life"  !  That  minister,  then,  I  will  venture 
to  say,  who  is  ignorant  of  the  truth,  or  who  has  but 
a  superficial  knowledge  of  it ;  who  is  indifferent  to  the. 
truth,  or  disposed  to  trifle  or  tamper  with  it ;  who  is 
doubtful  and  wavering  respecting  the  truth,  or  de- 
stitute of  that  skill  which  will  enable  him  "  rightly  to 
divide  it" — is  not  qualified  to  be  a  guide  to  immortal 
souls.      Surely  that  man  who  is  not   "  rooted  and 


41 

grounded  in  the  truth ;"  who  is  ready  to  embrace, 
with  little  caution,  and  with  less  examination,  every 
plausible  error  which  strikes  his  fancy  ;  and  who  will 
not  take  the  trouble  diligently  and  laboriously  to 
compare  with  the  word  of  God,  every  doctrine  which 
he  dispenses,  both  in  public  and  private ; — such  a 
man  gives  too  much  evidence,  that  he  has  but  little 
regard  for  the  truth  ;  little  reverence  for  its  Author ; 
little  sense,  either  of  the  difficulty  or  the  importance 
of  finding  the  truth ;  and  little  enlightened  concern 
for  the  souls  of  men.  I  believe  it  will  be  found,  uni- 
versally true,  that,  in  proportion  as  Ministers,  possess 
the  spirit  of  their  Master,  they  will  be  conscientious 
and  careful  in  studying  the  doctrines  which  they 
preach  ;  slow,  cautious  and  prayerful  in  embracing 
new  opinions  ;  and  deeply  solicitous  that  they  preach 
"  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
truth,"  in  all  their  ministrations. 

.3.  If  the  foregoing  principles  be  well  founded,  then 
we  ought  to  regard  with  the  most  serious  apprehension 
any  material  departure  from  Orthodoxy,  especially 
among  the  Teachers  and  Rulers  of  the  Church.  If  I 
mistake  not,  there  are  those,  even  among  the  Ortho- 
dox themselves,  who  estimate  the  mischief  and  danger 
of  false  doctrine  as  comparatively  small ;  and,  as  to 
the  mass  of  society,  they  are  ready  to  ridicule  the 
idea  of  any  serious  practical  evil  as  likely  to  flow  from 
doctrinal  error.  These  are  matters,  as  multitudes 
believe,  about  which  bigoted  theologians  may  be 
expected  to  dispute,  and  to  waste  their  time  and 
strength;  but  in  which  the  great  interests  of  the 
community  at  large,  and  even  of  the  Church,  are  but 
little  involved.     There  can  scarcely  be  a  greater 


42 

delusion.  Not  only  does  the  Bible  represent  all  de- 
partures from  the  faith,  as  evil,  and,  if  they  be  essen- 
tial, as  destructive  of  Christian  character  and  hope  ; 
but  all  ecclesiastical  history  serves  at  once  to  illustrate 
and  confirm  the  melancholy  representation.  When 
the  leaders  of  the  Church,  in  the  second  and  third 
centuries,  began  to  swerve  from  the  simple  and  ge- 
nuine doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  vital  piety,  and  holy 
living  began  to  decline  in  the  same  proportion.  In 
the  fifth  century,  when,  by  means  of  the  labours  of 
Augustine,  and  his  faithful  coadjutors,  the  eyes  of 
thousands  were  opened  to  see  the  error  of  Pelagian 
and  Semi-pelagian  opinions,  and  Orthodoxy  sensibly 
revived,  there  was  an  immediate  revival  of  vital  piety, 
the  effects  of  which  were  precious  and  lasting.  In 
several  subsequent  periods ;  in  the  days  of  Godes- 
chalcus ;  of  Claudius  of  Turin ;  of  the  Waldenses ; 
of  Wickliffe ;  and  of  Huss  and  Jerome,  it  was  evident 
that  practical  godliness  revived  or  declined,  just  as 
sound  or  erroneous  doctrines  bore  sway.  When 
Gospel  truth  was  brought  forth,  in  its  genuine  lustre, 
by  the  Reformers,  pure  and  undefiled  religion  sprung 
forth,  as  it  were  by  enchantment,  in  the  same  pro- 
portion. And,  on  the  contrary,  when,  toward  the 
close  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  during  the  seven- 
teenth, orthodoxy  declined  in  all  the  Protestant 
churches,  and  in  some  of  them  to  a  deplorable  de- 
gree ;  there  was  a  corresponding  depression,  in  every 
one  of  them,  of  zeal,  and  of  all  the  great  interests  of 
practical  religion.  Of  these  churches,  the  history  of 
few  is  more  melancholy  than  those  of  France.  For 
more  than  three  quarters  of  a  century  after  their  first 
organization,  they  were  among  the  most  pure  and 
flourishing  in  Reformed  Christendom.      And  as  long 


43 

as  their  pious  Pastors  continued  to  be  sound  in  doc- 
trine, faithful  in  adhering  to  their  excellent  Confession 
of  Faith,  indefatigable  in  catechising  their  children 
and  youth,  and  in  the  private  as  well  as  the  public 
instruction  of  all  classes  of  their  people  ; — notwith- 
standing all  the  rigours  and  frowns  of  a  hostile  go- 
vernment, they  prospered,  multiplied,  and  were  com- 
paratively happy.  But  no  sooner  did  orthodoxy 
decline  in  those  churches  ;  no  sooner  did  Cameron, 
Amyraut,  and  other  divines  of  distinction  and  in- 
fluence, begin  to  verge  towards  Semi-pelagian  opi- 
nions, than  an  immediate  and  sensible  decay  ensued 
in  piety,  in  zeal,  and  in  pure  morals.  Indeed  it  seem- 
ed as  if,  from  the  time  that  the  infection  of  these  errors 
became  in  any  considerable  degree  extended,  their 
peace  was  interrupted  ;  their  unity  broken ;  their 
standing  with  the  government,  in  the  righteous  judg- 
ment of  God,  less  comfortable  ;  until,  on  their  whole 
state  was  written — "  Ichabod,  the  glory  is  departed !" 
And,  to  this  day,  their  glory  has  never  been  restored. 
As  they  went  on  to  sink  lower  and  lower  in  error,  they 
became  also  more  and  more  depressed  in  every  thing 
that  constitutes  the  true  excellence  and  happiness  of 
a  church.  No  less  instructive,  as  to  this  point,  is  the 
history  of  the  established  Church  of  England.  The 
decline  and  the  revival  of  pure,  evangelical  doctrine, 
in  that  Church,  have  invariably  marked  a  correspond- 
ing decline  and  revival  of  true,  practical  religion. 
Nor  can  it  be  doubted  that,  in  all  cases  whatsoever, 
the  effect  of  error  must  be  injurious,  and  the  influence 
of  truth  healthful  and  happy,  just  so  far  as  they  re- 
spectively prevail.  The  innocence  of  error, — nay 
the  entire  innocence  of  any  error, — is  one  of  the 
dreams  of  infidelity.     Little  does  the  ingenious  and 


44 

self-contident  advocate  of  false  doctrine  think  of  the 
mischief  he  is  doing.  He  may  be  greatly  elated  with 
his  philosophical  refinements,  and  plausible  novelties. 
But  so  far  as  his  speculations  affect  or  approach  the 
fundamental  principles  of  the  Gospel,  and  gain  pre- 
valence among  the  people,  "  they  will  eat  as  doth  a 
canker ;"  they  will  eat  out  piety,  peace,  brotherly 
love,  revivals  of  religion,  holy  living,  social  order  and 
happiness,  and  every  thing  which  ought  to  be  dear  to 
the  friend  either  of  God  or  man.  The  Lord  preserve 
his  Church  from  such  miserable  speculations,  under 
the  name  of  improvements  in  theology  ! 

4.  From  what  has  been  said,  we  may  see,  that  all 
private  members  of  the  Church,  as  well  as  her  minis- 
ters, ought  to  consider  themselves  as  having  a  share, 
and  a  very  important  share,  in  the  duty  of  holding  fast 
the  " faithful  word."  It  is  observable  that  on  all 
classes  of  persons  connected  with  the  Church  of 
Crete,  where  Titus,  the  person  addressed,  now  was ; 
— on  the  old,  and  the  young  ;  on  both  sexes ;  and  on 
persons  in  office  and  out  of  it,  the  Apostle  enjoins  the 
duty  more  particularly  inculcated  in  our  text  upon 
Ministers.  Read  the  whole  Epistle,  and  especially 
the  chapters  immediately  containing,  and  immediately 
following  our  text ;  and  you  will  perceive  that  the 
inspired  writer  exempts  none  from  the  solemn 
charge.  He  exhorts  aged  men,  and  aged  women 
likewise  ;  young  men,  and  young  women,  and  even 
servants — in  various  forms  of  expression,  indeed,  but 
in  the  same  spirit — to  see  not  only  that  they  were 
themselves  "  sound  in  the  faith ;"  but  also  that  they 
all  watched  over  one  another ;  that  each  and  every 
one  might  be  "in  doctrine  uncorrupt,"  and  "adorn 
the  doctrine  of  God  their  Saviour  in  all  things.'1 


45 

Do  you  ask,  my  friends,  in  what  manner  i/ow,  who 
are  not  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  can  promote  the 
prevalence  of  Gospel  truth  ?  I  answer,  in  the  first 
place, — Never  oppose  it.  Never  give  countenance, 
directly  or  indirectly,  to  the  advocates  or  the  acts  of 
error.  Never  account  your  Minister  "your  enemy, 
because  he  tells  you  the  truth."  On  the  contrary, 
encourage  and  support  him  in  all  his  scriptural  fide- 
lity ;  and  never  ask  him  to  prophesy  "  smoother 
things"  than  the  Bible  prophesies.  But,  more  than 
this ;  take  care  to  store  your  own  minds  with  sound, 
discriminating,  digested,  religious  knowledge.  "  Let 
the  word  of  God  dwell  in  you  richly,  in  all  wisdom, 
and  spiritual  understanding."  Store  the  minds  of 
your  children,  also,  your  servants,  and  all  committed 
to  your  care,  with  the  same  heavenly  treasure.  Teach 
them,  as  early  as  possible,  to  commit  to  memory 
portions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  excellent 
Catechisms  of  our  Church.  Talk  to  them  of  the 
doctrines  as  well  as  the  duties  of  Religion,  "  when 
you  sit  in  your  houses,  and  when  you  walk  by  the 
way ;  when  you  lie  down,  and  when  you  rise  up." 
Put  them  on  their  guard  continually  against  the  in- 
sinuations of  error,  as  well  as  against  the  pollutions 
of  practical  wickedness.  In  a  word,  endeavour,  from 
the  earliest  dawn  of  reason,  until  they  cease  to  be 
under  your  care,  to  lodge  in  their  minds  as  large  an 
amount  of  rich,  assorted  Gospel  truth,  as  you  can 
induce  them  to  receive.  And,  finally,  make  the  same 
efforts,  as  you  may  have  opportunity,  among  your 
neighbours,  young  and  old.  Thus  may  every  private 
christian,  every  day  and  hour  that  he  lives,  if  he  have 
himself  sufficient  religious  knowledge,  and,  above  all, 
if  he  have  a  heart  for  the  purpose,  scatter  blessings 


46 

around  him ;  blessings  to  his  family ;  to  the  Church 
of  God ;  to  the  whole  community  : — blessings  which 
will  not  "perish  in  the  using,"  but  transmit  their 
hallowed  influence  far  and  wide ;  benefit,  it  may  be, 
thousands  of  precious  immortals ;  and  stretch  into  a 
boundless  eternity. 

5.  This  subject  suggests  many  considerations  worthy 
of  being  deeply  pondered  by  Him,  who  is  about  to  be 
constituted  the  Pastor  of  this  Church.  Beloved,  and 
highly  respected  Brother  in  Christ,  this  is  a  solemn 
day  for  you  !  You  have  consented  to  come  hither,  to 
stand  as  a  Watchman  on  this  part  of  the  "  wall  of 
Zion  ;"  to  guard  your  Master's  honour ;  to  contend 
for  his  truth ;  to  plead  his  cause  against  "  gainsayers ;" 
to  take  your  station  in  the  "  front  of  the  battle  ;"  to 
wield  the  "  sword  of  the  Spirit"  daily  and  hourly ; 
and  to  cheer  and  help  on,  in  all  its  departments  and 
interests,  that  great  cause  for  which  the  Saviour 
laid  down  his  life ;  which  the  world  is  every  where 
opposing ;  and  which  can  be  carried  on  only  by  fight- 
ing for  every  inch  of  ground.  To  aid  in  bearing  for- 
ward this  cause,  in  this  part  of  the  Church,  you  stand 
here  to  pledge  yourself  to-day.  Solemn  pledge  ! 
Momentous  enterprise !  You  are  not  so  inexperienced 
in  this  warfare,  as  to  dream  of  victory  without  hard 
fighting.  The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Master, 
nor  the  disciple  above  his  Lord.  The  best  wish  I 
can  form  for  you,  then,  my  Friend,  my  Brother,  at 
this  interesting  moment,  is,  that  you  may  come  girded 
with  the  genuine  spirit  of  a  "  good  soldier  of  Jesus 
Christ."  And  what  is  the  spirit  of  a  soldier  ?  In 
this,  as  in  every  other  warfare,  it  is  a  spirit  of  un- 
daunted courage ;    of  boundless  confidence  in  you  t 


47 

Leader ;  of  implicit  obedience  to  his  orders  ;  of  pru- 
dence, foresight,  perseverance,  and  a  readiness  to 
lay  down  even  your  life  in  his  service.  Cherish  this 
spirit,  and  act  upon  it,  and  all  will  be  well.  The 
result  will  be  blessed  to  yourself,  blessed  to  this  Con- 
gregation, and  blessed  to  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in 
our  land.  We  cordially  welcome  your  entrance  into 
our  Body;  and  while  we  offer  you  our  fraternal 
salutations,  our  hopes  and  our  prayers  ascend,  that 
the  solemn  transaction  of  this  hour,  may  long  be 
matter  of  joy,  not  only  to  yourself,  but  to  all  of  us 
who  stand  here  before  the  Lord  ! 

6.  Finally ;  the  subject  on  which  we  have  been 
meditating,  involves  many  considerations,  which  de- 
serve to  be  well  weighed  by  the  members  of  this  Church 
and  Society,  on  the  present  occasion.  It  teaches  us, 
that  "  sound  doctrine"  is  in  order  to  godliness ;  that 
cold,  heartless  orthodoxy  alone,  can  avail  us  nothing, 
but  to  aggravate  our  condemnation  ;  and,  of  course, 
that  it  becomes  every  gospel  hearer  to  look  well  to 
the  manner  in  which  he  receives  the  precious  truth 
of  God.  My  respected  and  beloved  Friends  of  this 
Congregation,  you  have  long  enjoyed  the  privilege  of 
sound  instruction  in  divine  things.  For  the  labours 
of  that  able,  faithful,  and  beloved  Man,  who  was 
instrumental  in  forming  this  Church,  and  who  so  long 
ministered  to  you  in  holy  things,*  you  have  a  solemn 


*  It  may  not  be  improper  to  mention,  for  the  sake  of  readers  beyond  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  if  the  eye  of  any  such  should  light  on 
this  page— that  the  beloved  and  lamented  Man  here  alluded  to  is  the  late 
Reverend  John  Chester,  D.  D.  who  was  for  many  years  the  Pastor  of  the 
Congregation  here  addressed ;  and  the  praise  of  whose  talents,  piety,  pastoral 
fidelity,  public  spirit,  and  peculiarly  polished,  pleasant  and  attractive  man- 
ners, is  in  all  the  Churches. 


48 

account  to  give.  We  are  all  witnesses  with  what 
force,  and  tenderness,  and  fidelity  he  instructed,  and 
warned  you,  from  the  Pulpit,  and  by  Letter,  as  well 
as  from  house  to  house.  And  now,  before  your  ac- 
count with  Him  is  finally  closed  at  the  bar  of  God, 
where  you  have  yet  to  meet  him,  You  are  about  to 
receive  another  Pastor.  We  congratulate  you  on 
your  choice  and  prospects.  But  while  you  rejoice  in 
them,  "  rejoice  with  trembling."  Tremble,  lest  some 
of  you  be  found  to  be  "  hearers  of  the  word  only,  and 
not  doers,  deceiving  your  own  souls."  Truly,  my 
Friends,  it  is  a  solemn  thing  for  a  people  to  have 
Teacher  after  Teacher,  and  warning  after  warning, 
in  sacred  things.  If  they  profit  not  in  a  saving  manner 
by  them,  they  are  only  preparing  for  a  more  aggra- 
vated condemnation.  You  may  love  your  Minister ; 
you  may  admire  his  preaching ;  you  may  hang  upon 
his  lips  with  delight,  from  sabbath  to  sabbath ;  you 
may  become  Biblical  critics,  and  even  sticklers  for 
Orthodoxy,  under  his  ministrations  ;  and  yet,  after 
all,  may  "  know  nothing,"  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
"  as  you  ought  to  know."  After  all,  you  may  have 
none  of  that  spiritual  knowledge  of  God,  of  your- 
selves, and  of  the  Saviour,  which  is  "life  eternal." 
While,  therefore,  I  exhort  you,  my  dear  hearers,  to 
seek  sound  doctrinal  know  ledge,  with  unceasing  dili- 
gence, I  charge  you,  in  the  name  of  Him,  whose  I 
am,  and  whom  I  serve,  not  to  rest  satisfied  with  mere 
speculation.  You  must  "  know  the  truth"  in  the 
love  and  power  of  it,  or  "it  had  been  better  for  you 
that  you  had  never  been  born."  If  you  have  never 
yet  bowed,  then,  to  the  power  of  the  Gospel,  as  a 
practical  system,  bow  to  it  now.     Not  to-morrow,  for 


49 

you  know  not  that  to-morrow  will  ever  be  yours. 
Now  repent  and  believe  the  Gospel.  Now  "  yield 
yourselves  to  God,  as  those  that  are  alive  from  the 
dead."  "  Now  is  the  accepted  time,  behold,  now  is 
the  day  of  salvation."  "  To-day,  while  it  is  called 
to-day,  harden  not  your  hearts."  Grace  be  with 
you  all  !     Amen  ! 


